Patient Access Team Lead

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health; Gig Harbor (WA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is seeking a Patient Access Team Lead to provide day-to-day operational leadership and coordinate workflows across hospital access areas, including ED, main registration, admitting, and payer notification. You will guide staff, resolve complex registration and insurance issues, and ensure timely, accurate access activities for a positive patient experience.

The role requires strong leadership, problem-solving, and relationship-based care aligned with our mission

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in patient access, healthcare registration, admitting, or related hospital-based access roles.
• Experience in senior or lead capacity within patient access or registration.
• Experience in hospital-based access areas including Emergency Department, main registration, admitting, or related workflows.
• Bachelor's degree in business management, healthcare administration, or similar is preferred.
• Experience using Epic and/or Meditech is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide real-time operational oversight and workflow coordination for patient access activities across assigned hospital access areas.
• Coordinate daily work assignments, task distribution, and area coverage to support patient flow, service standards, and operational continuity.
• Serve as the first point of escalation for complex registration, insurance verification, authorization, and patient financial issues, ensuring timely and appropriate resolution.
• Perform complex patient registration, insurance verification, authorization and financial clearance activities as needed to support operations.
• Communicate patient financial responsibility, payment options, and available financial assistance resources to support patient understanding.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and real-time support to Patient Access Representatives, Financial Counselors, and Eligibility staff to reinforce accuracy, service standards, and best practices.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Coaching

Education

High School Diploma

GED

Associate degree

Tools

Epic EHR

Meditech EHR

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Patient Access Team Lead, you will provide day-to-day operational leadership and workflow coordination for hospital-based patient access operations across assigned access areas, including the Emergency Department, main registration, admitting, and payer notification workflows, serving as a subject-matter expert and the first point of escalation for complex registration, insurance, authorization, and patient account issues.

Every day you will support patient access staff with real-time guidance, workflow coordination, and issue resolution to ensure timely, accurate completion of access activities and a positive patient experience, while collaborating closely with supervisors and managers to support operational continuity and service quality.

To be successful in your role, you will need strong leadership and problem-solving skills to guide staff through complex issues in real time, along with a commitment to relationship-based care and the organization's mission, and core values.

• Provide real‑time operational oversight and workflow coordination for patient access activities across assigned hospital access areas.

• Coordinate daily work assignments, task distribution, and area coverage to support patient flow, service standards, and operational continuity.

• Serve as the first point of escalation for complex registration, insurance verification, authorization, and patient financial issues, ensuring timely and appropriate resolution.

• Perform complex patient registration, insurance verification, authorization and financial clearance activities as needed to support operations.

• Communicate patient financial responsibility, payment options, and available financial assistance resources, as appropriate, to support patient understanding.

• Provide guidance, coaching, and real‑time support to Patient Access Representatives, Financial Counselors, and Eligibility staff to reinforce accuracy, service standards, and best practices.

Job Requirements

Required

• High School Graduate General Studies, upon hire or

• High School GED General Studies, upon hire and

• Associates Other, upon hire and

• 3–5 years of experience in patient access, healthcare registration, admitting, or a related hospital‑based access role required., upon hire and

• Prior experience functioning in a senior, advanced, or lead capacity within patient access or registration., upon hire and

• Demonstrated experience supporting hospital-based access areas, including Emergency Department, main registration, admitting, or related workflows., upon hire and

Required Licensure/Certifications:

• None, upon hire

Preferred

• Bachelors Other Bachelor's degree in business management, healthcare administration or similar, preferred, upon hire and

• Experience using electronic health record systems such as Epic and/or Meditech required or strongly preferred., upon hire

Where You’ll Work

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare, dating back to 1891. Building upon a legacy of compassionate care and innovation, our organization has evolved through strategic partnerships and integrations over the years across the Puget Sound area.

Today, as Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we remain deeply committed to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the communities we serve. This commitment is strengthened by the diverse expertise and shared values brought together through our growth.

Our dedicated providers offer a full spectrum of health care services, from routine wellness to complex disease management, all grounded in rigorous research and education. Our comprehensive network of 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites strategically located across the greater Puget Sound region reflects our ongoing commitment to accessibility and comprehensive care.

We are proud of our pioneering medical advances and numerous awards and accreditations that reflect our dedication to excellence. When you join Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you become part of a team that delivers top-quality, professional healthcare in modern, well-equipped facilities, and contributes to a legacy of service built on collaboration and shared purpose.

Pay Range

$23.00 - $35.65 /hour

We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.